Rondelet's "Libri de Piscibus Marinis”: a Book About Science, Sea Monks and Sea Bishops

The Queensland Museum's earliest printed book – Guillaume Rondelet's (1554) illustrated treatise on fish and marine life.

The mediterranei seal woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

This very rare and important book, held by the Queensland Museum Library, is famous for being the earliest attempt to scientifically document the most important fish, mammals and invertebrates known to Europeans at the time, and is widely considered the 'beginning' of modern ichthyology (the study of fish).

The 'sea lion' woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

Rondelet was a leading French anatomist in the 16th century, and had first-hand knowledge of many of the species he depicted. However he also chose to include in his book two bizarre 'flights of fantasy' – the Sea Monk and Sea Bishop – suggesting that he might have had a very wicked sense of humour!

The 'sea bishop' woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

Myth, science and Sea Monks

In the 16th century, 'science' - based on provable observations – was still in its infancy. The oceans were seen as home to strange or dangerous creatures which were mostly the product of exaggeration rather than truth.

The books of distinguished French anatomist Guilleaume Rondelet (published 1554 and 1555) rank among the most reliable accounts of marine animals of their day. However, alongside accurately illustrated fish, crustaceans and molluscs, Rondelet felt compelled to accept such questionable sea life as the human-faced 'Sea Monk' and 'Sea Bishop'.

Did he believe they existed or was he just giving readers the 'monsters' they expected?

The 'sea monk' woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

Sea Monks: Real or imaginary?

Supposedly caught off the Danish coast c. 1546, the Sea Monk became 'fact' once it was illustrated and described in books such as those by Rondelet (1554) and Gesner (1558).

This scientific paper concludes that the Sea Monk might be the Angel Shark (Squatina squatina) rather than another fish species, a Giant Squid or a seal.

However, given the lack of reliable information, it is more likely the Sea Monk is fictional.

The skate woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

Were the Sea Bishop and the Sea Monk jokes? Their comical appearance suggests so.

The Sea Bishop probably represents a 'Jenny Haniver' – a dried skate or stingray, modified to look humanoid. Such curios have been made for centuries. In Asia, hybrid 'sea monsters' were no more than mummified monkey and fish parts sewn together. The most famous of these – P.T. Barnum's 'Feejee Mermaid'– was exhibited with great success in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Queensland Museum Library (Rare Book Collection): 16-2094

The 'centipede whale' woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

Fish authorities consider Rondelet’s book the beginning of scientific ichthyology.

Lugduni: Apud Matthiam Bonhomme, 1554

The flying gurnard woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

The swordfish woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

The pipefish woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

The dolfin woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

The ocean sunfish woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

The 'Serpente rubescent' woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

The sturgeon woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

The skate woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

The 'sea robin' woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

The flying fish woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

The hammerhead shark woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

The sailfin roughshark woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

The whale woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

The dolphin woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

The seal woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

The leatherback turtle woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

"De Physsalo" woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

The shrimp woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

The sea nettle woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

The sea nettle woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

The 'argonaut' woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

The octopus woodcut illustration (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

Woodcut of Guillaume Rondelet, author (1554) by Guillaume RondeletQueensland Museum Network

Portrait of Guillaume Rondelet
(1507–1566)

Frontispiece from Rondelet, G. (1554) Libri de Piscibus Marinis, in quibus verae Piscium effigies expressae sunt Image source: Queensland Museum Library (Rare Book Collection): 16-2094

Credits: Story

Author: Dr John Healy
Photographer: Geoff Thompson

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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